Liu Zhenqing didn’t want to remember. The most unbearable thing had never been the humiliation he suffered in the enemy camp or the inscription on his back.

What he didn’t dare face was that when he rushed to the battlefield and found Huo Feihan, he was still on his last breath.

He’d hugged Huo Feihan and listened to him apologize in his ear, saying that he couldn’t accompany him any longer, that he would leave his family to him.

Liu Zhenqing listened blankly with a horrible helplessness.

Huo Feihan’s hand happened to be resting on Liu Zhenqing’s back as he spoke, and he felt something that shouldn’t be there.

“You’re injured?” Huo Feihan asked.

“It’s nothing,” Liu Zhenqing said stiffly.

“You’re bleeding and you still won’t admit it. Zhenqing, take good care of yourself and don’t let yourself get hurt, otherwise I won’t be able to rest assured in death.” Huo Feihan said weakly: “Zhenqing, I lost. But don’t you lose…..Great Zhou is relying on you…..don’t lose, ah……”

Huo Feihan’s hand slipped softly from Liu Zhenqing’s wound. It hurt from his touch, but Liu Zhenqing gritted his teeth and endured it. He still remembered that feeling. He remembered that even though he risked everything, he still lost the person he was trying to save.

Ever since changing worlds, Liu Zhenqing had encountered numerous difficulties and obstacles, yet always held onto a trace of kindness. And after Huo Feihan’s death, he also learned to have a heart like iron in order to keep going. Those days were truly bitter and numb.

Currently in Huo Fenglie’s arms, he gave vent to his emotions and eventually fell asleep. Crown Prince Jingyang was there in his dreams, and Huo Feihan. And in the end, there was the scene of him lying against the coffin as he drank.

Suddenly, a young Er-gou appeared and held him in his arms as he wept.

“Qing-ge, you don’t have to carry everything alone. I can help you.”

The boy’s youthful yet resolute voice enveloped Liu Zhenqing like the murderous aura of a battlefield, yet gave him a strange sense of security.

A hug and a promise comforted Liu Zhenqing’s heart, which was on the verge of collapse. It gave him a final thread of support, allowed him to bury his head and be weak for a moment.

When he looked up again, he touched the boy’s head and felt that he could still stand firm…..

Liu Zhenqing opened his eyes. He was lying in a warm, solid embrace, and the familiar scent was the same as in his dreams.

Liu Zhenqing was in a daze until a call of “Qing-ge” drew him out.

Only when he looked up to see the grown-up Huo Fenglie did he recall the memory he had buried in drunkenness.

“Er-gou, you…..” Liu Zhenqing wanted to ask, but seeing Huo Fenglie’s worried and questioning eyes, he felt there was no need to figure out whether it was reality or a dream. Because Er-gou had accomplished their goals, but he’d failed Er-gou by not waiting for him.

Liu Zhenqing’s state of mind relaxed a great deal. At least the heavens had given him a chance to make it up to Er-gou.

He turned over in Huo Fenglie’s arms and reached up to hook his neck. Slowly, he recounted the last time he had seen Huo Feihan. He could now speak of it calmly.

He wanted Huo Fenglie to know about Huo Feihan’s concern for his younger brother.

But after hearing this, Huo Fenglie only frowned, saying: “The words ‘entrust’ and ‘don’t lose’ trapped you for the rest of your life.”

Prince Jingyang had a destiny for Great Zhou and Yuan Jue, and the Huo family had responsibilities toward Great Zhou and the Yuan clan. But the most free-spirited of people was trapped by friendship.

He recalled Li Jinshu’s evaluation of Liu Zhenqing before he left.

“A beauty’s bones, a heroic life, treading atop thousands of corpses with loyalty and integrity, with only a handful of ashes left in the end.”

Face with such an assessment, Huo Fenglie’s heart broke. Even the enemy understood that person’s passionate loyalty, but he didn’t get a good ending.

Huo Fenglie was unreconciled, and even resentful. Right now, he could only hug the person in his arms tightly.

“Actually, it wasn’t that I was trapped.” Liu Zhenqing saw Er-gou’s distressed expression and couldn’t help the way the corners of his mouth rose. “You’re the only one in this world who happened to learn about my origins. Experiencing these things and shouldering these responsibilities can be regarded as my ties to this world.”

At Er-gou’s grave expression, he suddenly laughed, saying: “Fenglie, my ties to this world actually started with you.”

Huo Fenglie was taken aback by these sudden sweet words.

Liu Zhenqing said softly: “The moment I rescued you, I was destined to have a connection with this world. Because my arrival allowed a life that should have perished to survive. You were my first gift in this world.”

After speaking, Liu Zhenqing gently touched Huo Fenglie’s lips.

Huo Fenglie’s cheeks reddened: “Qing-ge, are you feeling a little better?”

Liu Zhenqing nodded. “What about you?” he asked. “Are you feeling a little better?”

Huo Fenglie stared blankly.

Liu Zhenqing smiled: “Didn’t you lose your temper when you saw Li Jinshu? It’s not like you at all to be so impulsive, and you were tormenting my back yesterday. Are you jealous because you know these things? In fact, he never did take advantage of me.”

It wasn’t Li Jinshu who started the war with the Kingdom of Xiheng back then, but another force. Li Jinshu just wanted Liu Zhenqing so much that he negotiated terms with him at the expense of his own country’s interests. However, their covenant had not yet been implemented, and the conditions were invalid.

It was likely that after engraving his name, Li Jinshu felt that the covenant was being implemented and thus immediately withdrew his troops at that time, giving them a chance to breathe.

Huo Fenglie pursed his lips and didn’t know how to answer. He knew that Li Jinshu’s name had indeed been engraved on Liu Zhenqing’s back, but he hadn’t known the specific circumstances. He only felt that Qing-ge had been humiliated. That was proof that he and his brother had failed to protect Qing-ge.

Back then, Li Jinshu had come to the battlefield to inform him of Liu Zhenqing’s death, mocking: “You’re as useless as your brother, and didn’t protect him well. If I had known what would happen today, I would have taken him back with me then.”

Such words had once shaken Huo Fenglie, and the days and nights without Liu Zhenqing made him wonder uncontrollably if they had weighed him down. But now, he was unwavering. Because he knew that no matter what path Qing-ge chose, and no matter how difficult it was, he could go on. And all he needed to do was stay by his side.

He just didn’t want Liu Zhenqing to see Li Jinshu again, didn’t want him to think of the humiliation he suffered when he was helpless, nor the grief he felt when his brother died.

Huo Fenglie looked into Liu Zhenqing’s clear eyes and whispered: “En, I’m jealous.”

Seeing Er-gou like this made Liu Zhenqing laugh.

He grabbed Huo Fenglie’s hand and placed it on his back, saying: “In that case, you can give me a tattoo when we go back.”

“What?” Huo Fenglie was dumbstruck.

“You can do it. You can tattoo me yourself. I want your name engraved on my back.”

Huo Fenglie was at a loss: “How could I…..”

Liu Zhenqing reached out and scratched Huo Fenglie’s chin, saying with great affection, “Why not? I want you to understand that I don’t belong to anyone but you.” 

Huo Fenglie was so enraptured that he couldn’t help but stroke the graceful curves hidden under his clothes with increasing force.

“Tattoos…..hurt.”

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie, who obviously wanted to do it, but was trying so hard to hide his little thoughts with a torn, worried look on his face.

He couldn’t help laughing on the inside. Er-gou always had a way to make him happy. Even if it wasn’t intentional, he always cheered Liu Zhenqing up.

But when Liu Zhenqing was in a happy mood, he didn’t act like a human being.

“Don’t you have me tattooed all over your body? I also want one that changes with body temperature.” Liu Zhenqing’s eyes roamed as he spoke. “When the time comes, you’ll be able to see your name appear on me every day, all right?”

Huo Fenglie’s face went red. His body stiffened, and he turned over and pushed Liu Zhenqing down.

Just as the temperature of their kisses was rising, a knock on the door interrupted the proceedings.

It was already dark. Guards must have come many times, urging them repeatedly. There was a banquet, after all, and Huo Fenglie hadn’t been there all this time. It was unreasonable, and the emperor had asked after him several times.

“I’ll accompany you,” Liu Zhenqing said.

In any case, he no longer had any scruples about Li Jinshu. Liu Zhenqing’s heart was calm, and he no longer needed to hide.

Everyone’s attention was aroused when the two men appeared again. Yuan Jue called them forward and smiled, saying to them privately: “I hear that my Imperial Sister caused some trouble?”

Naturally, Liu Zhenqing couldn’t take the lead. Huo Fenglie stepped forward and saluted: “Answering Your Majesty, Her Royal Highness the Princess attempted to kill my fiance.”

“Attempted to kill him, but didn’t.” A voice suddenly sounded. It was the young man sitting to the back left. “Eighth Sister is just willful. General Huo actually threatened her with a sword, which really doesn’t give our royal family face.”

Liu Zhenqing looked over. The man was about the same age as Qiao Jin, but in terms of appearance and demeanor, he wasn’t up to par with Qiao Jin or Yuan Jue. Not to mention saying such a thing on such an occasion, this idiot thought he could be emperor?

Liu Zhenqing really wanted to complain. The crown prince’s brother hadn’t inherited his genes well, ah.

Although King Jing’s voice was lighthearted and teasing, the provocation in his words was obvious. Yuan Jue sent him a glance.

“Zhanyuan doesn’t act without reason, so Imperial Sister must have gone too far. It seems it really is time to marry her off as soon as possible,” Yuan Jue said with a faint smile.

This was said as if the trust between Yuan Jue and Huo Fenglie was unshakable, like even if Huo Fenglie had taken action against the Eighth Princess, Yuan Jue would probably be biased toward him.

In fact, if not for the blood relationship, Yuan Jue would indeed regard Huo Fenglie as his brother more than these two younger siblings who had rarely gotten along with him.

When King Jing saw this, there was an ominous glint in his eyes. It wasn’t that he wanted to target Huo Fenglie. After all, the general would be his watchdog when he took power. It was just that Huo Fenglie had caused their plans to run aground again and again, so how could he not be angry and want to teach him a few lessons? It was a pity that his Imperial Brother was still so dependent on the Huo family, and also wasn’t afraid that a rebel would one day appear in the Huo family and change the surname of Great Zhou.

Naturally, the surrounding envoys stretched their ears to hear these whispered conversations.

All claims that the emperor feared those close to him who had power and merit were false. It was truly disappointing that the relationship between emperor and minister was still so impeccable.

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Yuan Jue waved for them to go down and watch the entertainment.

Far removed from his mood during the day, Liu Zhenqing was relaxed now. He ate and drank when he should, and said a few words to Huo Fenglie after the wonderful performance. One of them was enthusiastic and one was calm, one talked a lot and one talked little. But Huo Fenglie would respond to every word of Liu Zhenqing’s even if just with an expression. No matter how one looked at it, they were as intimate as if nobody else was around.

For a while, many people were stunned.

“Jiejie? You seem to be paying close attention to Young Master Liu,” Jian Shuang said.

Yao Hua was startled. She looked away and said: “I just think he’s a bit…..”

“Like that person?” Jian Shuang said, watching as Yao Hua unconsciously caressed the jade pendant under her clothes.

Yao Hua nodded, not hiding anything from Jian Shuang.

“Where are the similarities?” asked Jian Shuang.

Yao Hua pondered over it, but couldn’t explain it clearly. It was probably that he could constantly keep Huo Fenglie’s attention on him. Huo Fenglie was constantly circling around Liu Zhenqing when he was a boy, and now General Huo was also circling around his fiance, so they seemed very similar.

Yao Hua couldn’t help but raise her head to take another look, only to see Huo Fenglie suddenly lean forward and block her gaze. She didn’t know if it was just a coincidence, but it felt familiar to Yao Hua. Amused, she no longer looked over there.

A gust of wind blew, and Jian Shuang couldn’t hold back her cough. Yao Hua habitually placed a cloak on her and asked: “Do you want to go back?”

Jiang Shuang shook her head: “I won’t go back. It’s rare to see entertainment with Jiejie. Winter is coming, let’s ask the emperor to move into the palace.”

Yao Hua’s eyes flashed: “All right.”

Jian Shuang leaned against Yao Hua, but her eyes turned to King Jing on the side. However, King Jing avoided her gaze and never looked her way.

Yuan Jue’s gaze also frequently fell on Huo Fenglie’s side. When Huo Fenglie said before that he wanted to marry, Yuan Jue didn’t have much practical experience seeing what they were like together. But now that he saw them interacting as a pair, he felt like something was amiss. Could a person like Huo Fenglie truly transfer such strong feelings to another person?

Apart from that person being a substitute, Yuan Jue couldn’t think of any other possibility.

Of course, Li Jinshu couldn’t stand the sight of it even more. His love rival he recognized had changed his mind in the blink of an eye, and it really put him out of sorts. After all, they had just finished speaking of Liu Zhenqing’s past, and Huo Fenglie’s had clearly displayed a very strong reaction. Didn’t that prove that he still had feelings for Liu Zhenqing?

He felt Huo Fenglie should have been upset for at least a while. Why was he so sweet with someone all of a sudden? What was the secret behind Young Master Liu?

The shortsighted Li Jinshu was determined to run over and be an eyesore.

Although things had been made clear, the appearance of Li Jinshu still made thorns stand up all over Huo Fenglie’s body.

Li Jinshu casually walked over to their table with a wine cup to ask for a drink. “I’m not unwelcome, am I? We still haven’t finished reminiscing about old times.”

Huo Fenglie was about to say he wasn’t welcome, but then he heard Liu Zhenqing say: “Your Highness, please.”

Liu Zhenqing had no choice. According to Li Jinshu’s temperament, if he wasn’t satisfied now, there was no telling what he would say in front of everybody later.

Huo Fenglie was taken aback. He looked at Liu Zhenqing in surprise and said: “There’s no need…..”

Liu Zhenqing gave Huo Fenglie a look that said to sit tight and be patient. Having the lowest status, it wasn’t possible for Liu Zhenqing to pour wine, so Huo Fenglie snatched the wine from Liu Zhenqing’s hands with a cold face.

Seeing how obviously unhappy the other was, Liu Zhenqing was helpless and could only pat him on the leg to comfort him.

Li Jinshu looked at them with interest and said with a smile: “I had thought General Huo would never care for anyone in this life.”

Huo Fenglie’s hands paused when he said this, and he sent Li Jinshu a warning look.

Fearing that there wasn’t enough chaos in the world, Li Jinshu said: “Young Master Liu, do you know? Your fiance once had someone he held dear to his heart. For him, he went to fight me on the battlefield.”

Liu Zhenqing was originally in a complicated mood, but upon hearing this…..he felt wonderful.

Huo Fenglie’s expression didn’t change much. This kind of situation had happened many times, and he was no longer embarrassed. He just regarded Li Jinshu with some displeasure. But suddenly, he felt something wrong with the hand on his thigh, which had gone from patting to rubbing.

The expression on Huo Fenglie’s face instantly froze.

Seeing this, Li Jinshu assumed Huo Fenglie had a guilty conscience and continued: “Young Master Liu, has General Huo mentioned to you his reason for not getting married for so many years?”

Huo Fenglie gradually lost control of the muscles in his face, and his body tensed up. He gave Liu Zhenqing a helpless look.

“Is it true? Did you like someone before me?” Liu Zhenqing’s sudden inquiry stunned Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie looked at him, dumbfounded. If it weren’t for a certain person’s hand performing evil acts below, with that expression on Liu Zhenqing’s face, Huo Fenglie would have truly believed he’d let him down.

On the opposite side, Li Jinshu looked as if he was watching a good show.

“I…..I…..” Huo Fenglie didn’t know how to answer.

Liu Zhenqing looked at him aggrievedly: “Then go and marry him, ah. What are you doing marrying me?”

Huo Fenglie had a hard time finding words, and could only reach to hold down the wicked hand that was about to cross into dangerous territory.

“No, I’m marrying you,” Huo Fenglie stammered.

“Really. Then swear it,” Liu Zhenqing said immediately.

Huo Fenglie quickly raised one hand and swore: “I, Huo Fenglie, will only marry you in this life.”

Liu Zhenqing suppressed a smile and pretended to be touched: “En, I’ll also only marry you.”

They exchanged looks of tender affection, which made the corners of Li Jinshu’s lips twitch. He feared Young Master Liu was an idiot. He was deceived so easily? And Huo Fenglie dared to speak nonsense. Li Jinshu didn’t expect that such a righteous fellow could also be a heartless and unprincipled scumbag, even worse than himself!

Li Jinshu couldn’t take it anymore: “Hehe, are the two of you marrying very soon?”

“Naturally. Does the prince plan to stay for the wedding banquet?” Liu Zhenqing asked with enthusiasm.

“I don’t dare remain in your Zhou Dynasty for so long,” Li Jinshu said with a smile.

“Why not? The prince is a guest, and of course we would ensure his safety,” Liu Zhenqing said innocently.

Seeing how simple this person was, Li Jinshu gave a half-smile and said: “But your Great Zhou isn’t safe right now, ah. How could you protect me?”

“How can that be? Anywhere Fenglie is must be the safest.”

“That’s not necessarily true. General Huo has not yet defeated me, so what need have I to rely on him to ensure my safety?” Li Jinshu smiled and raised an eyebrow, glancing at Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie paid no attention at all to his provocation, but he was somewhat concerned about the conversation between the two of them just now.

“I suggest you postpone your wedding. There won’t be any auspicious days this month.”

A cold light flashed in Huo Fenglie’s eyes when he heard this, and he suddenly understood why Liu Zhenqing had invited Li Jinshu over.

The conversation between them sounded like pleasantries, but in fact, Liu Zhenqing was testing Li Jinshu. He wanted to find out if the man had another purpose for coming here.

And judging by Li Jinshu’s answer, he clearly had ulterior motives.

“No way, I’ve looked at them all. There are so many auspicious days,” Liu Zhenqing said in disbelief.

“They really won’t be good, especially…..the day after tomorrow.”

“Isn’t the day after tomorrow when everyone has been invited to go hunting? Days like that are carefully chosen, and the weather is good, so how could it not be a good day?” Liu Zhenqing said with a naive appearance.

“Hunting, ah, how can a day of killing be a good day?” Li Jinshu teased Liu Zhenqing as if teasing a child. After all, with the age difference between them, wasn’t it just like teasing a little friend? “Young Master Liu, it’s best not to attend the event the day after tomorrow. If you’re stained with blood, it may not be suitable for you to marry in the future.”

Liu Zhenqing sent Huo Fenglie a look of confusion: “So would it be better for Fenglie not to go either?”

Li Jinshu smiled: “It’s best for him not to go, but I’m afraid he has an important position and has no other choice.”

At Liu Zhenqing’s worried appearance, Li Jinshu smiled and said: “I’ll help watch over him for you and try my best not to let him kill anything.”

Liu Zhenqing nodded somewhat sheepishly.

Li Jinshu hadn’t expected Liu Zhenqing to actually be a little white rabbit, and it grew boring after playing with him for a while. He still liked foxes more, so he picked up his wine cup and wandered away.

“The day after tomorrow…..”

“No, tomorrow.”

Liu Zhenqing retracted the hand that was teasing Huo Fenglie. His eyes were calm, and his hand on the table moved unconsciously – if there was a Rubik’s cube available, he would have definitely been spinning it.

Although Huo Fenglie still felt that something wasn’t right, he still asked: “Why?”

“That guy looks arrogant, but he actually understands the shortcomings of arrogance and is proficient at using it to confuse his enemies. If you succeeded in parsing the words he said, you would definitely focus on guarding against that date in the future rather than tomorrow. And you would also pay special attention to the future hunting event. After all, a situation like that is the most likely to have problems, and takes a lot of energy to defend. Relatively speaking, tomorrow’s performance day at the palace seems less worrying.”

Huo Fenglie frowned: “Tomorrow, all of the countries are offering their gifts and bringing performers.”

“Could King Jing be colluding with Li Jinshu to use the performers as assassins?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

“It’s very possible. However, if there are no hidden weapons on them, an investigation can’t be carried out,” Huo Fenglie said. “All we can do is keep an eye on them.”

Liu Zhenqing nodded: “That’s sufficient.”

After the first day’s birthday banquet, King Jing stayed and went to the Empress Dowager’s palace to comfort the weeping Eighth Princess. It wasn’t until Yuan Jue came and said a few words that the princess knew it was hopeless and calmed down.

The Taifei accompanied the Eighth Princess back to rest, and Yuan Jue conversed with King Jing and the Empress Dowager for a while. The content was seemingly about domestic trifles, until King Jing’s future wife was brought up.

King Jing opened his mouth and said: “It isn’t important. I think it would be better to choose one next year.”

“Why, are you not satisfied with these choices? They have all been carefully selected by the Empress Dowager and the Taifei. When they all come tomorrow, this emperor can make the announcement on the spot,” Yuan Jue said with a smile.

“Emperor Brother should make the announcement for General Huo tomorrow. Judging from how he and his new wife look together, they are impatiently waiting. I’m not dissatisfied with the choices, but it has to be someone I like. I still hope that I will be able to personally choose my future wife.”

Of course he must choose his own empress. What kind of family backgrounds did these women have to qualify for the title of empress?

Yuan Jue didn’t try to persuade him, just saying with a half-smile: “Fate is destined by heaven. Perhaps the one for you is hidden among this selection. Don’t dwell on poems and distant places all, but instead look at the people in front of you, ah.”

King Jing smiled ingratiatingly.

He was about to leave after Yuan Jue did, but Yao Hua stopped him.

When King Jing approached her, Yao Hua sighed softly and patted his head. A hint of impatience appeared on King Jing’s face: “Mother?”

“Son, your mother passed away early. You were raised by me and the Taifei together, just like parents with their child.”

King Jing’s expression went a little stiff: “Why is the Empress Dowager suddenly bringing this up?”

Yao Hua lowered her eyes slightly: “I’ve been feeling unwell lately and want to eat Tanyun Province’s sweet osmanthus cakes. Can you go buy them for me?”

King Jing’s expression was somewhat unnatural: “I will send someone.”

“Before, you personally bought them for me,” Yao Hua said.

“Then wait until after the Longevity Festival, and I’ll go.”

Yao Hua said in a soft voice: “Can’t you go tomorrow?”

King Jing smiled: “Mother wants to eat them so much.”

“The Longevity Festival. Weren’t you talking about how tedious it is and that you don’t want to choose a concubine? Then there’s no need to stay,” Yao Hua said.

“I still must stay. It’s the emperor’s birthday, after all.” King Jing stood up and said: “I will buy them for you later, Mother. I’ll take my leave now.”

Watching King Jing turn and leave without hesitation, Yao Hua sighed heavily.

A gentle, reserved voice suddenly sounded: “Your Highness, are you being soft-hearted?”

“It’s done, forget it. Once a person’s heart changes, it can’t be changed back. This is the truth I understand the most after marrying into the royal family. There are so few people in this world who can maintain their original intentions forever.”

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Chapter 136 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 138